Multiple bell cap clamp



m G G A R B L E IULTIPLE BELL CAP CLAMP Filed Nov. 20, 17

I. I I I I n v Milt #5190 ////VVI Patented Oct. 10, 1950 2,525,064

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE BELL GAP CLAMP Benjamin' L. Bragg. III, Fanwood, N. 1., minor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware Application November 20, 1947, Serial No. 787,068

2 Claims. (01. 281-114) l 2 The present invention relates to a means for A hold-down bar member or gang type clamp securing bell or bubble cap elements intheir oper- I is provided to engage the hooked ends of a ating relationship to the chimney elements in a series of rod members 6. The opposite end porfractionating tower plate. More particularly the tions of the bar 1 are formed with eye portions invention relates to gang clamping means for 5 1a, and adjusting bolts 8 are freely disposed such purpose, and especially to a clamp adapted therein. Each bolt 8 carries a cap nut 9 threaded for attachment and removal as a one-man operon its upper end, providing a bearing for the ation. upper end of a coil spring ill, the lower end of In the use of fractionation equipment, to which bears against the upper end of the eye which the contemplated equipment specifically 1o portion In on the bar clamp I. The two springs applies, it is customary for the bubble cap eleassociated with each clamp normally should exments of each plate to be individually secured in ert a combined pressure against each clamp and their relationship to the plates, or to be secured maintain a minimum pressure therethrough on by means of hold-down bars extended over sevthe hold-down rods 6, substantially equal to the eral cap elements, or a row of such caps. The gas pressure applied to the full area of the sevindividual means employed usually consists of a eral bell caps in the series secured by the clamp. bclt extended through the cap element to engage The resistance of the springs l0 may be adjusted a yoke below the plate chimney. Such means reas required, within the limitation imposed by the quire at least two operators, one above the plate distance between the clamp I and the plate 2, by and one below to secure or remove the cap ele- 2o adjusting the position of the nuts 9 on the bolts 8. ments for cleaning or other servicing operations. It is contemplated that where required in order The hold-down bar arrangement tends to interto balance or equalize pressure against the bar I, fere with the flow of liquid across the plate, when as where a curved, circular, or otherwise deoperating the tower, and is therefore undesirable. formed bar is found necessary, or where excep- Since it is not uncommon for a fractionating tionally heavy spring members are required to tower to be equipped with plates containing 100 oppose gas Pressure against the bubble caps asor more caps per pl even Small improvements sociated with the bar clamp, additional eye in construction may result in considerable impieces may be formed or attached to the bar I at provement in operating emciency and s vin f spaced intervals to receive the bolts, caps nuts, man power. It is an object of the invention to 0 and retaining springs for such purpose. Provide a means wh reby hell r bu l c ps may The dimensions of the several elements are be attached and rem ve quickly and easily by critical only in so far as required for proper asone man. This and other features of the invensembly of the clamp, and to avoid excessive intertion may be readily understood from the followference with fluid flow below the plate. It is conin Specification when read in conjunction with templated that ordinarily the clamp structure the a p nying drawings, in which should not depend below the plate elements to Fig. 1 is a two plate vertical section through a greater di t n t th depth of t sup- DOrtiOn Of a fracticnating tOWerporting structure of the plate as represented by Fi 2 is an enlarged view of a single bellype the I-beam ll shown in Fig. 2. With this discap. showin the clamp in r ic section. and tance designated as :c, the other preferred di- Fi 3 i a Sim r V Showing the l p n mensions, designated as a, b. and c, in the showside elevation. ing of Fig. 2 may be stated approximately as With reference to the drawings, the numeral I follows: designates a fractionation tower provided with a+b=z plate elements 2 having flanged openings or chimneys 3. Bell or bubble cap elements 4 are b=a+1 disposed over the chimneys 3 in the customary 2 relationship, being spaced from the plates and a from the chimney elements as by spacers 5. c=-

Each bell cap 4 is provided with a hold-down .50 rod member 6, having a hooked lower end de- When fully extended, as shown in Fig. 3, the

pendent below the plate 2. The upper end of compressibflity of the spring l0 should be apthe rod 6 is secured concentrically of the cap by proximately equal to any suitable means, but preferably provision 6 should be made to permit adjustment of the 0+ hooked lower end vertically with relation to the plate. As shown, the upper end of the rod passes in order to permit the bar I to be removed from through an opening in the cap, by threading or the hooked portions of the rods 6.

otherwise, and is secured by means of nuts 6a Although the invention has been described with and 6b. reference to its application in conjunction with 3 fractionating and distillation equipment, it is not intended that it be considered as limited by such description for the purpose of illustration, but only by the appended claims, in which,

I claim: r

1. In conjunction with a plate element having a plurality of fluid passageways therethrough, and cap elements for each of said passageways, a means for resiliently retaining said cap elements in vertical relation to said plate, comprising a hold-down rod member concentrically of each cap having a lower end dependent through said passageway below the plate, a clamping bar member engageable with the lower ends of a series of said rod members, bolt means freely supported by said bar member extensible vertically upward therefrom into endwise engagement with the lower surface of said plate, and expansion spring means between said bolt and bar adapted to extend the bolt upwardly, said bolt means when in engagement with the plate cooperating with said spring means to exert a resilient downward pressure against said bar resiliently resisting upward movement of the cap, rod and bar members.

2. In conjunction with a plate element having a plurality of fluid passageways therethrough and cap elements for each of said passageways, a means for resiliently retaining said cap elements in vertical relation to said plate, comprising a. holddown rod member concentrically of each cap having a lower end dependent through said passageway below the plate, a clamping bar member engageable with the lower end of a series of said rod members, an eye portion at each end of said bar, a bolt member supported freely and vertically in each eye portion extensible upwardly therethrough, an adjustable cap nut on the upper end of said bolt, and an expansion coil spring member between said cap nut and eye portion, encircling said bolt.

BENJAMIN L. BRAGG, III.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

